ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Sunday, February 23, 1997              TAG: 9702240107
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL   PAGE: A-6  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON

DONORS OFFERED ACCESS TO KEY GOP LAWMAKERS

A committee that helped re-elect House Republicans in 1996 used promises of special access to Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and other major GOP members to entice high-level donors.

The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday that a fund-raising letter from the National Republican Campaign Committee offered perks to individual and corporate donors at two giving levels.

Individuals giving at least $5,000 to finance GOP races and corporations that gave $10,000 or more were offered ``regular briefings with key Republican House members and staff who work directly on the discussion topic.'' Larger donors - individuals at $15,000, businesses at $25,000 - got additional invitations to a special meal with Gingrich and monthly dinners with the chairmen of important congressional committees.

Chances to mingle with GOP lawmakers at their winter and summer meetings and the ``NRCC Chairman's Skeet and Trap Shoot'' were also thrown in, the Times said.

- Associated Press

LENGTH: Short :   31 lines
KEYWORDS: POLITICS